99th Illinois Infantry Regiment

The 99th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Recognized as the first regiment from Illinois to be mustered under the 1862 call for troops, they participated in several of the most important campaigns of the Western Theater, including the Siege of Vicksburg and the Mobile Campaign.

99th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Former Illinois state flag
Active	August 23, 1862 (1862-08-23) – August 9, 1865 (1865-08-09)
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union Illinois
Branch	Union Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	Battle of Port Gibson Battle of Champion Hill Battle of Big Black River Siege of Vicksburg Jackson Expedition Battle of Brownsville Battle of Fort Esperanza Fort Blakeley

99th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Monument at Vicksburg National Military Park across the ravine from the Railroad Redoubt (2019)

Captain Isaac G. Hodgen of Co. A, 99th Illinois Infantry Regiment. From the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

Service

The regiment was formed in Pike County, Illinois, in August 1862 by Colonel George W.K. Bailey. The 99th Illinois Infantry was organized at Florence, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on August 23, 1862. The regiment immediately moved to Benton Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri, to receive equipment before being attached to the District of Rolla.

The 99th Regiment spent its first winter in southern Missouri, where they engaged in skirmishes at Beaver Creek and participated in the Battle of Hartsville, resulting in 35 casualties. In early 1863, the regiment traveled through West Plains and Pilot Knob before departing for Louisiana to join the Vicksburg Campaign.

The regiment was mustered out on July 31, 1865, and discharged at Springfield, Illinois, on August 9, 1865.

Total strength and casualties

The regiment suffered 4 officers and 47 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds 1 officer and 120 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 172 fatalities.

Commanders

• Colonel George W.K. Bailey - Mustered out December 16, 1864.

See also

• List of Illinois Civil War Units
• Illinois in the American Civil War
• Thomas J. Higgins, a soldier in the 99th Illinois who won the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Vicksburg.

References

Sources

• Dyer, Frederick Henry (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (PDF). Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co. p. 1089. ASIN B01BUFJ76Q. hdl:2027/mdp.39015026937642. LCCN 09005239. OCLC 8697590. Retrieved October 20, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• Federal Publishing Company (1908). Military Affairs and Regimental Histories of New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan (PDF). The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861–65 – Records of the Regiments in the Union army – Cyclopedia of battles – Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. Vol. III. Madison, WI: Federal Publishing Company. pp. 319–320. OCLC 1086145633. Retrieved July 11, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• Illinois Adjutant General (2024). Illinois Civil War Regiment and Unit Histories. Springfield, IL: The Official Website for the Illinois Secretary of State. pp. 313–315. Retrieved October 20, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "99th Illinois Infantry Regiment". The Civil War Archive. 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
• "99th Illinois Infantry Field & Staff". Illinois in the Cvil War. Illinois Adjutant General. 2001-10-21. Archived from the original on 2003-03-31. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
• "Battle Unit Details, 99th Regiment, Illinois Infantry". nps.gov. U.S. National Park Service. January 19, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.